Bumped from First Class to Coach at gate, Paid Ticket
#16
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,268
There is zero evidence that AS did this intentionally because someone showed up and offered more.
OP is due a refund of the fare difference and then a customer service gesture for his troubles. The refund should be to his form of payment, e.g. CC.
The AS system is customer-unfriendly. Where you are assigned should not make any difference. The UA system downgrades based on reverse upgrade priority. Thus, no paid ticket would be downgraded ahead of any form of UG.
OP is due a refund of the fare difference and then a customer service gesture for his troubles. The refund should be to his form of payment, e.g. CC.
The AS system is customer-unfriendly. Where you are assigned should not make any difference. The UA system downgrades based on reverse upgrade priority. Thus, no paid ticket would be downgraded ahead of any form of UG.
#17
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: EUG
Programs: ʙᴏɴᴠo̱ʏ Pt, IHG Au, HH Dia, Nexus, Pilot FlyingJ Preferred
Posts: 5,329
UA also has a clear compensation schedule for day of travel downgrades in addition to fare difference/instrument/miles refund and their compensation is in the form of more useable ETCs which are akin to MyWallet funds/gift certificates than one time discount code coupons.
#18
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Kawaihae, Hawaii
Programs: Alaska Airlines
Posts: 15
AS told me that a downgrade compensation is $350 when I called to offer to switch flights...but the only compensation I got was $150 through tweeting after landing at SEA.
I called a supervisor at the Gold Desk yesterday and today he sent me a discount code for a future flight...except it was the same discount code as the service rep on Twitter, so it's no good.
For anyone else's future reference, a downgrade from First to Coach is *supposed* to be 15,000 miles or a $350 discount voucher (according to what I was told). Whether you get them or not is entirely up to how much you're willing to fight.
#19
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines


Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,627
AS told me that a downgrade compensation is $350 when I called to offer to switch flights...but the only compensation I got was $150 through tweeting after landing at SEA.
I called a supervisor at the Gold Desk yesterday and today he sent me a discount code for a future flight...except it was the same discount code as the service rep on Twitter, so it's no good.
For anyone else's future reference, a downgrade from First to Coach is *supposed* to be 15,000 miles or a $350 discount voucher (according to what I was told). Whether you get them or not is entirely up to how much you're willing to fight.
I called a supervisor at the Gold Desk yesterday and today he sent me a discount code for a future flight...except it was the same discount code as the service rep on Twitter, so it's no good.
For anyone else's future reference, a downgrade from First to Coach is *supposed* to be 15,000 miles or a $350 discount voucher (according to what I was told). Whether you get them or not is entirely up to how much you're willing to fight.
I think the comp is route dependent... ie shorter stage length is less $$$.
#20
Join Date: Aug 2006
Programs: "all" airlines and hotels
Posts: 93
There is another explanation, although 2 times makes it suspicious.
Everyone know about Mike Rowe? Dirty Jobs guy? Research him. Opera singer by profession.
Before Dirty Jobs, he did audio for in flight entertainment on UA. He had 2 passes (needed a camera man) that would get him on ANY US flight, in first at ANY time. Bump anyone.
Here is the funny part. They didn't full his pass after he lost the gig. For 1.5 years after, he would meet a girl and take her to Paris, first class, for a meal :-)
Google it. Lots of fun.
Everyone know about Mike Rowe? Dirty Jobs guy? Research him. Opera singer by profession.
Before Dirty Jobs, he did audio for in flight entertainment on UA. He had 2 passes (needed a camera man) that would get him on ANY US flight, in first at ANY time. Bump anyone.
Here is the funny part. They didn't full his pass after he lost the gig. For 1.5 years after, he would meet a girl and take her to Paris, first class, for a meal :-)
Google it. Lots of fun.
#22
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,062
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: alaska
Posts: 108
#24
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: alaska
Posts: 108
So wait a second, without calling would you still have paid the F ticket price AND been on coach? Or did they immediately offer to at least refund you the difference in price between the lowest coach fare and the F ticket?
I don't mind flying in the back either (if I have to in order to get where I want) but I would be furious if I paid ~$300 for a 2 or 3 hour flight when coach tickets back at the time of booking were a little less then $100!!
I don't mind flying in the back either (if I have to in order to get where I want) but I would be furious if I paid ~$300 for a 2 or 3 hour flight when coach tickets back at the time of booking were a little less then $100!!
The refund(eventually) was between the price of coach/first at the time of booking. Reasonable. Maybe could have fought for more miles I suppose after reading through this thread.
In life, it's really not worth the stress for me to haggle more, but if it happens a 3rd time, I would at least consider legal action because that starts to be evidence of a pattern.
Last edited by gdam22; Nov 27, 17 at 2:33 pm